The Most Intriguing Storylines of the NBA Offseason

The NBA offseason is one of the most exciting times of the year.  That's right, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it correctly.  One of the most thrilling periods on the NBA calendar is when no games are played!  The offseason's free agency and draft start the speculation for the new season, and for NBA nuts like myself, the debate pot starts stirring immediately.

For example, will LeBron James start filling the shoes of the great Michael Jordan and win back-to-back championships?  On top of that, what about the hype surrounding top pick Anthony Davis?  Also, let's not forget about Jeremy Lin taking the "Linsanity" tour to Houston and Dwight Howard moving from Orlando to La-La Land.

Simply put, the myriad storylines that have happened this offseason have given NBA fans a reason to look to the new season with great anticipation.  Only one question remains: Which one is the biggest?

10. Brandon Roy's Comeback

After being drafted sixth overall in the 2006 draft, Brandon Roy established himself as one of the best up-and-coming shooting guards in the league.  In his rookie season, playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 16.8 points and shot an impressive 38 percent from long range.  In his first five NBA seasons, the former Washington Husky averaged 19 points per game and appeared to be on his way to a phenomenal career.

Unfortunately, while blessed with talent, Roy was cursed with balky knees, having undergone two surgeries in two seasons by 2011.  As a result, he retired shortly after last year's lockout ended, at just 27 years old.

However, after a year away from the game, Roy has decided to come back by means of a two-year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and their revamped roster.  This puts him on a team with double-double machine Kevin Love and future All-Star point guard Ricky Rubio, both of whom could easily lead Minnesota back to the playoffs.

Just what Roy's role with his new team will be is unclear, but one thing is for sure.  His fans, and NBA fans in general, will be watching his games closely as one of their favorite scorers looks to revitalize his NBA career.

9. Toronto Gets a Big Man

In the 2011 draft, Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo chose to fill his team's greatest need and take a big man in the form of Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas, whose 6'11", 231 pound frame was ideal for the team's low-post defense.  Though Valanciunas was indeed taken with the fifth overall pick, there was a catch.  Due to the Raptors only being able to cover $500,000 of his buyout price, he was forced to remain in Europe for one more season.

Valanciunas will make his much-anticipated NBA debut this year and play center for the Raptors.  He's still quite raw and has a lot to learn about playing center on the NBA level, but he has a great coach in Dwane Casey and a fine supporting cast consisting of rookie Terrence Ross and point guard Kyle Lowry.

That said, his NBA debut should get a lot of attention if he can connect with his teammates in training camp.

8. Minnesota's New Look

For a period of time last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves looked as though they could make a run for a playoff spot and then seriously contend for a championship.  Unfortunately, star rookie point guard Ricky Rubio then tore his ACL and the team quickly fell in the standings, adding onto a string of losing seasons.

This coming season, however, head coach Rick Adelman has some new talent with which to work.  Not only is Rubio coming back from his injury, but team GM David Kahn went out and signed the aforementioned Brandon Roy along with the Russian sensations, shooting guard Alexey Shved (pictured) and former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, both of whom should add some solid shooting and athleticism.

Also, let's not forget that Kahn traded Minnesota's first-round pick in the 2012 draft to the Houston Rockets for forward Chase Budinger, who brings a great deal of athleticism to the table. 

Long story short, Minnesota is a fuller and deeper team this year, and despite being young, it has more than enough talent to rise in the rankings of the ultra-competitive Western Conference and make a strong playoff bid.

7. The Return of Lob City

Prior to last season, the Los Angeles Clippers had a reputation for being a team that could be defined in two words: lovable losers.  For most of their existence, this squad played second fiddle to the powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers and often finished the season well out of the playoff race.

That was before the team traded for star point guard Chris Paul, a great, all-around floor general who simply does it all—from playing tough defense to making pretty passes to sinking clutch three-pointers.  Once on the Clippers, he formed an instant bond with star power forward Blake Griffin, as well as his other teammates, and turned the team from a gang of misfits into a dunk-heavy squad that came to be known as Lob City.

As a result, the Clippers quickly made a big jump in the standings and finished as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.  They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round in seven games, only to be swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.  Despite the result, it was one impressive season for them.

Therefore, team owner Donald Sterling chose to spend money this offseason and brought in key players like Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom, not to mention the fact that he also signed Griffin to a lucrative extension.

Thus, although the Lakers have made their fair share of big moves this offseason, it's going to be hard to ignore the Clippers once the new campaign begins.

6. Anthony Davis' Rookie Year

Wow, ladies and gentlemen.  What a year it's been for Anthony Davis!  Not only did he win a national championship as a star freshman for the University of Kentucky, but he was also the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and can now add Olympic gold medalist onto his career resume.  Sure, he was the 12th man on Team USA, but he still got a medal!

That being said, it's safe to say that he's going to be under the microscope quite a bit once the new season begins.  Not only is he a phenomenal shot-blocker, but he can hold his own in the rebounding department and also has a decent jump shot. 

Seeing as how the New Orleans Hornets need a fresh face to lead them back into contention and out of the Chris Paul era, one can only hope that Davis lives up to the hype surrounding him.

5. 'Linsanity' Goes to Houston

For a short time last winter, the New York Knicks were without both Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.  Top production then came from the least likely of players in undrafted second-year PG and Harvard grad Jeremy Lin, who thrived in then-coach Mike D'Antoni's system, as he was able to put a great number of points on the board and dish out some nice assists while also playing tough defense. 

Even when D'Antoni resigned in March and was replaced with assistant Mike Woodson, Lin continued to do a fine job in getting Anthony and Stoudemire the ball.

As a result of his production with the Knicks, Lin entered restricted free agency with his value at an all-time high.  Despite reports that New York would match any offer, the Houston Rockets' package of $25.1 million over three years proved to be too much for team management to handle, and thus, Lin finds himself in the Lone Star State.

That being said, it's going to be really interesting to see how well he adjusts to coach Kevin McHale's system.  Yes, he has proved that he can play on the NBA level, but how well can he do in a system that doesn't make the point guard the go-to guy?

Needless to say, all fans will be watching Lin as he begins the next chapter of what will hopefully become a long and brilliant career.

4. Carmelo Anthony's Challenge

The New York Knicks have had quite the busy offseason, and with Carmelo Anthony leading the charge on offense, fans could very well have a reason to celebrate once the postseason rolls around.  However, the Knicks' biggest storyline entering the new season isn't their potential for greatness, but Anthony's indirect calling out of LeBron James at the end of last season.

Shortly after the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, Anthony didn't shy away from the fact that he could very well be next in line for championship glory.  He even went so far as to say "my time is coming."

Knicks GM Glen Grunwald must have taken those words to heart, as the Knicks added key pieces like Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby and Raymond Felton this offseason and suddenly appear to be in a prime position to make a lot of noise in the Eastern Conference.  Seeing as how the Orlando Magic have set themselves up for a tank season and the Chicago Bulls could be without Derrick Rose for an extended period of time, a good season is New York's to lose.

3. Oklahoma City's Revenge

First off, just look at this picture of Kevin Durant.  He looks like a villain horribly defeated by a hero who has nothing left to do but plot his revenge. 

Seeing as how his Oklahoma City Thunder dropped four straight games after taking Game 1 of last season's NBA Finals, it's understandable why he would feel this way.  Hell, during Olympics training, the former Texas Longhorn even admitted that he was still hurting from his team's loss.

That said, if there's one team that's going to be out for blood this coming season, it's the Thunder.  They've done nothing but improve over the past few seasons, and with key players in James Harden and Serge Ibaka entering free agency next summer, chances are that everyone on the team will be in overdrive from start to finish.

Getting back to the NBA Finals won't be easy for the OKC, but with its youth and passion, it's certainly not out of reach.

2. Lebron James Wins a Ring: The Sequel

Well, fans, it finally happened.  LeBron James finished a season not only as an MVP, but as an NBA champion.  In finally taking over as the leader of the Miami Heat, the former No. 1 pick averaged an astounding 30.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, as he carried his team on his back to a five-game victory in the NBA Finals against the young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sure enough, Heat GM Pat Riley only got hungrier after taking home another Miami championship ring and brought in some much-needed depth in free-agent sharpshooter Ray Allen, as well as Rashard Lewis.  That said, with so many other teams entering next season as contenders, just what are the odds that the Heat can repeat as champions?

Seeing as how most of last year's core is returning, the chances seem pretty high.  Then again, we'll just have to see once the season begins.

1. The New Look Lakers

As great as the Heat looked in last year's NBA Finals, they are anything but a lock to repeat as champions next season.  In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers finally seemed to realize that the "get the ball to Kobe" approach wasn't working and sent GM Mitch Kupchak to troll the free-agent market.  There, the veteran front-office executive made out like a bandit and then made a huge move on the trade market.

First, Kupchak inked veteran point guard Steve Nash to a three-year deal worth $27 million.  Sure, Nash is 38 years old, but he plays with the tenacity and passion of someone 10 years younger and is still one of the most accurate shooters in the NBA—not to mention a phenomenal passer.  With him utilizing all targets, from Kobe Bryant to new sixth man Antawn Jamison, the Lakers' chances of winning it all have definitely gone up.

Los Angeles' greatest move of the offseason, however, occurred just last week.  In a trade that looks like a steal on paper, Kupchak managed to acquire All-Star center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic, instantly making the team's frontcourt one of the most dangerous in the NBA.

Simply put, every other team in the NBA needs to have an extra practice in the days before the Lakers come to play them.  This team easily has the deepest starting lineup in the league now, and though the key cogs in the machine may be on the older side, they are more than capable of keeping up with the young guns of the NBA.

When the dust settles, don't be at all surprised if the Lakers turn out to be the last team standing.